Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
  • B63B35/003—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for for transporting very large loads, e.g. offshore structure modules
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
  • B63B35/44—Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices

Definitions

• the present invention in general relates to a vessel for retrieving and deploying equipment(s) in offshore region.
• the vessel is semi-submersible and can also work as a normal sailing vessel in non-submerged condition.
• the present invention also relates to a method of retrieving and deploying equipment(s) in off shore region, applying such semi-submersible vessel.
• the present invention provides an offshore vessel according to the preamble of claim 1 and also a method of deploying and retrieving equipment(s) in off shore region without subjecting the equipments and lifting/lowering devices to dynamical forces in the splash zone/water surface, according to the preambles of claims 14 and 16.
• heavy equipments In offshore regions applying vessels for deploying and retrieving heavy equipments is well known. Such heavy equipments are known to relate to oil and gas exploration and production, mining and mineral exploration, drilling operations and so on.
• WO 2010/020026A2 discloses a double hall catamaran type vessel having a deck and a common bridge for loading and unloading operations of supplies, in the oil sector.
• this vessel is not suitable for offshore areas where waves go up to even ten metres high, such as in the North Sea.
• mono hull off shore vessels have been tried such as the ones disclosed in WO 2009/102197 and WO 2009/102196.
• these mono hull off shore vessels such as disclosed in these two publications, are not suitable for many off shore operations, particularly in hostile seas, such as in North Sea, Brazil and Gulf of Mexico having regard to stability and safety considerations.
• Semi-submersible vessels for use in various types of offshore work are known in the art. These vessels are particularly useful in offshore regions where the sea is hostile. It is also known, that these semi-submersible vessels are designed to take care of safety and stability considerations, which are of prime importance in such hostile offshore areas.
• WO 99/12807 discloses a semi- submersible vessel design which provides a strong and substantially rigid base to support the deck(s) of the superstructure.
• WO 2009/084950 discloses semi- submersible vessels which are braceless.
• WO85/03050 discloses a geometrically improved semi-submersible vessel having a buoyant centre column centrally disposed about the drilling central string. This design was meant to significantly reduce heave motion under sea states.
• WO 99/5701 1 discloses a design of a semi-submersible vessel which ensures safety of the mineral exploration platform it supports.
• WO 2007/09761 1 discloses a semi-submersible vessel which has an assembly of hull section, support structure and deck structure, the deck structure having reinforcement for surviving storms.
• Such vessels are also not known to have an optional temporary port which function on an identical principle as the main vessel, for accommodating crew vessels/supply vessels/ any other vessels for safe transfer of crew and material.
• US5215024 does disclose an open ocean based berthing facility for capturing a ship or similar vessel, but it is mainly directed to serve the purpose of sea bases for defence purpose.
• the berthing facility has a buoyant platform having an enclosure formed therein for receiving the vessel. Movement of the vessel is coupled to the movement of the platform so that relative motion between the vessel and platform is relatively reduced.
• This technology does not disclose a semi-submersible vessel for offshore activities, which nullifies/substantially reduces the disadvantages of prior art as disclosed in the previous paragraph and simultaneously, has an optional temporary port which function on an identical principle as the main vessel, for accommodating crew vessels/supply vessels/ any other vessels for safe transfer of crew and material.
• the former discloses a vessel for rescuing vessels in distress.
• the rescue vessel has an elongated basin and a ballast device. There are two lateral hulls surrounding the basin and delimiting an upper edge of the rescue vessel. When the vessel to be rescued is evacuated, the upper edge of the rescue vessel is above sea level.
• WO93/04914 discloses a jumbo barge carrier fast sealift and port system having a trapezoidal double hull design. It includes a barge-carrying vessel, at least one cargo carrying barge, a transportable port system and a causeway. It relates to rapid transport and deployment of extremely large amounts of cargo needed to meet humanitarian, economic and military contingencies and strictly speaking does not relate to a semi-submersible vessel for retrieving and deploying equipment(s) in offshore region, which is the subject matter of the present invention.
• the present invention meets the above long felt needs and other needs associated therewith and the construction of the mono hull column stabilized semi-submersible vessel as disclosed hereinafter, is consequential to the present invention.
• the present invention aims to meet the above needs hitherto not taught by prior art, by providing a specially constructed mono hull vessel for deploying and retrieving equipments in offshore region, which vessel by virtue of its specially configured construction ensures that the disadvantages of prior art, as discussed hereinbefore, are substantially reduced/nullified.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a mono hull vessel for deploying and retrieving equipments in the offshore region which is stable and reliable in extremely hostile sea conditions.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a mono hull vessel for deploying and retrieving equipments in the offshore region which has a cost effective design and can ensure deployment and retrieval of equipments without any splashing effect.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a mono hull vessel for deploying and retrieving equipments in the offshore region which is adapted to sail as a vessel with low draft at a fairly high speed in non-submerged condition.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide a mono hull vessel for deploying and retrieving equipments in the offshore region, which is a mono hull column, stabilized unit, is ship shaped and is simultaneously adapted to be applied effectively in a wide range of offshore applications.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a mono hull vessel for deploying and retrieving equipments in offshore regions which has an optional temporary port and functions on an identical principle as the main vessel, for accommodating crew vessels/supply vessels/ any other vessels for safe transfer of crew and material.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for deploying and retrieving heavy equipments from water, in offshore operations without subjecting the equipment and the lifting/lowering devices to the dynamical forces of the splash zone by submerging and retrieving the section through water, instead of the usual method of lowering/retrieving it through the water line.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel hull/pontoon for its application on a mono hull vessel for deploying and retrieving equipments in the offshore region which is stable and reliable in extremely hostile sea conditions.
• the present invention discloses some advantageous features still not disclosed in prior art.
• a mono hull vessel for retrieving and deploying equipments in offshore region comprising a deck box with an upper deck at its top said upper deck having a lifting and lowering facility, a hull/pontoon at the base of said vessel.
• hull/pontoon is connected to the deck box by a plurality of columns.
• the hull/pontoon is made in one piece and is continuous to form the platform for a lower deck.
• the upper and lower deck are configured to allow lifting and lowering of equipment therefrom and thereon respectively.
• the vessel is adapted to submerge and to move up the lower deck to and from a desired depth, below the water level.
• the columns are 4 to 10 in number and the assembly of the upper deck, the deck box, the lower deck are designed in coherence with the hull/pontoon which is similar to that of a ship and is submersible, to impart a ship like shape to said vessel in totality, whereby said vessel is adapted to function as a normal sailing vessel in non-submerged condition.
• the deck box has engine room, large space for said equipments, accommodation units and there is a helipad on said upper deck.
• the hull/pontoon has ballast tanks, fuel tanks, FW tanks and thruster engine room and said lower deck also has a forecastle deck.
• the ballast tanks are provided in the lower hull and parts of said columns.
• the displacement in submerged condition of the vessel is approximately 45000 tons and loading capacity of said upper deck is 6000 to 8000 tons and the moon pool is arranged all the way from said upper deck to bottom hull.
• the vessel is provided at its aft region, with a temporary port unit for crew vessels or supply vessels or other vessels.
• the port unit comprises a sluice gate arrangement at end of said aft region and is provided with a sheltered area. More preferably, the temporary port is adapted to be moored on a turret system.
• the vessel according to the present invention is adapted to be applied as any one of or a combination of two or more of deep sea construction vessel, intervention vessel, construction vessel, drilling unit, Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS), heavy lift vessel, windmill installation vessel, pipe layer, deep water mining vessel, accommodation unit, tender unit.
• AHTS Anchor Handling Tug Supply
• a method for submerging equipment(s) through water without subjecting the equipment and lifting/lowering devices to the dynamical forces of the splash zone in off shore region comprising providing a mono hull column stabilized semi submersible vessel having a deck box with an upper deck at its top having a lifting and lowering device, a hull/pontoon at the base of said vessel which is similar to that of a ship hull and is submersible, said hull/pontoon being connected to the deck box by a plurality of columns, said hull/pontoon is made in one piece and is continuous to form the platform for a lower deck, the upper deck is configured to allow lowering of equipment therefrom on the lower deck, said vessel is adapted to submerge said lower deck to a desired depth below the water level in the event of placement of said equipment on the lower deck and to lift and lower said equipment from the lower deck so submerged, by virtue of said lifting and lowering device on the upper deck.
• the method involves:
• a method for retrieving a submerged equipment(s) through water without subjecting the equipment and lifting/lowering device to the dynamic forces in the splash zone in off shore region comprising providing a mono hull column stabilized semi submersible vessel having a deck box with an upper deck at its top, said upper deck having a lifting and lowering device, a hull/pontoon at the base of said vessel which is similar to that of a ship and is submersible, said hull/pontoon being connected to the deck box by a plurality of columns, said hull/pontoon is made in one piece and is continuous to form the platform for a lower deck, the upper deck and lower deck are configured to allow lifting of equipment thereon.
• the method involves:
• a hull/pontoon for its application on a mono hull vessel according to the first aspect of the present invention, for retrieving and deploying equipments in offshore region.
• the hull/pontoon is made in one piece and is continuous to form the platform for a lower deck and said hull/pontoon is designed to have a shape as that of a ship hull.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mono hull vessel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 2 illustrates another perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the mono hull vessel according to the present invention, in operation in offshore region.
• Figures 3 to 5 illustrate different stages in that order of a preferred method of submerging heavy equipment in offshore region according to the present invention.
• Figure 6 illustrates a view of the temporary port in the aft region of the mono hull vessel according to the present invention with the sluice gates open.
• Figure 7 illustrates another view of the temporary port in the aft region of the mono hull vessel according to the present invention with the sluice gates closed.
• the mono hull vessel according to the present invention has an upper deck 2 with a very large area for accommodating heavy equipments.
• the upper deck 2 is at the top of the deck box and deck box is equipped with accommodation units 6, a helipad 7 and canning bridge or navigation bridge 8.
• the hull/pontoon 1 is made in one piece and is continuous to form the platform for the lower deck 5.
• the lower deck 5 has a forecastle deck 9.
• the hull/pontoon 1 has ballast tanks, fuel tanks, FW tanks and thrusters engine room (not shown).
• the lower deck 5 is connected to the deck box/upper deck 2 by a plurality of columns 4. Preferably, there are four to ten columns.
• the lifting and lowering device 3 is also provided on the upper deck 2.
• the assembly of the upper deck 2, the deck box, the columns, and the lower deck 5 are so designed together in coherence with the hull/pontoon which is similar to that of a ship hull and is submersible, so that the mono hull vessel in totality is ship shaped. This ensures that when the vessel is not submerged it can sail as a normal sailing vessel.
• the mono hull column stabilized structure together with the upper deck and the lower deck provides the desired stability to the vessel, so that it is effective in extremely hostile sea conditions, to perform a wide range of offshore operations.
• it can work as any of or a combination of two or more of deep sea construction vessel, intervention vessel, construction vessel, drilling unit, Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS), heavy lift vessel, windmill installation vessel, pipe layer, deep water mining vessel, accommodation unit, tender unit.
• AHTS Anchor Handling Tug Supply
• FIG. 2 shows the mono hull vessel in operation in offshore region.
• the like reference numerals indicate the same features as in figure 1 all such reference numerals are not inserted in this figure for the sake of clarity.
• This figure 2 also clearly shows the lifting arrangement 3' and the crane 3.
• the unit according to the present invention has a ship shaped submersible hull 1 and four to eight columns connecting the hull to the deck box. It is the hull/pontoon at the bottom in particular, in combination with the design of the other features, as described hereinbefore, which make it possible to operate the vessel as a normal ship.
• the unit is deliverable in a wide range of sizes and with a wide range of capacities.
• the hull contains ballast tanks, fuel tanks, FW tanks and thrusters engine room(not shown).
• the ballast tanks (not shown) are provided in the lower hull and parts of the columns 4.
• the unit preferably has a speed of 10-1 1 knots in sailing condition and is designed to do station keeping up to 6.5- metre waves, 2 knots current and 15m/s wind in submerged condition.
• the deck box is preferably 120x45x6m and contains engine room, large rooms for heavy equipments and accommodation units 6.
• the vessel is preferably equipped with six to 12 propellers depending on size and operational area. Columns are adjustable in respect of heights to fit operational requirements and environmental factors in actual operational area. As stated before, the vessel is deliverable in all sizes say from 100 - 300 metres length and 45-70 metres width.
• the vessel has ballast tanks mainly in the lower hull and parts of the towers (columns).
• the displacement in submerged condition is about 45 000 tons.
• the weight of the construction/equipment is compensated with water ballast when the construction/equipment is landed on the bottom.
• the construction/equipment is about 1 % of the total displacement and has therefore only a limited impact on the vessel's stability.
• the vessel has preferably a loading capacity of about 6000 - 8000 tons on the uppermost deck.
• the vessel according to the present invention by virtue of the combination of its constructional features as described hereinbefore solves the known problems of motions in prior art and provides better and more stable work platform offshore, larger tank and DWT capacity. Furthermore, it has been found to be more flexible when it comes to sailing end entrance of ports compared to rigs. That apart, it provides better protection to all equipments going through the moon pool, as moon pool is arranged all the way from upper deck to bottom hull.
• This vessel sails as a normal vessel with low draft and provides good stability to crane operations. Additionally, great manoeuvrability is achieved due to location of thrusters. It has 1 1 knots speed in sailing condition and avoids large forces on cranes, lifting gear and constructions. It also operates, without heave compensator on the crane, has lower requirement for safety factor and higher lifting capacity, avoid damages on construction and lifting arrangement. It can hold large capacities on sections and has been found to be capable in extremely rough sea conditions.
• FIG. 3 to 5 illustrate how the vessel according to the present invention, deploys (and likewise retrieves) large heavy equipments 10 by submerging, without subjecting the equipment and lifting/lowering device to the dynamic forces of the splash zone, instead of following the usual method of lowering( or lifting) the heavy equipment through water line.
• This is a remarkable trait of the present invention.
• the like reference numerals indicate the same features as in figures 1 and 2 and all such reference numerals are not inserted in these figures for the sake of clarity.
• the vessel avoids the dynamic forces of the splash zone on the equipments and lifting/lowering devices, during retrieving the equipment.
• Retrieval steps will obviously be just the opposite and is not shown in the accompanying figures.
• the method of retrieving heavy equipments comprises the steps of submerging the vessel such that the lower deck is at a desired depth below the water level, lifting and placing the equipment on the lower deck from water by the lifting arrangement 3' and crane 3 and moving the vessel up the water such that the lower deck is above the water level.
• the equipment 10 is lifted on the upper deck 2 by means of a lifting arrangement 3' detachably attached to a crane 3.
• the accompanying figures 6 and 7 show a further advantageous constructional feature of the vessel according to the present invention. It shows a temporary port 1 1 at the aft region of the vessel.
• the port also has a large ship shaped hull/pontoon at the bottom (not visible) just like the vessel and functions on an identical principle.
• the temporary port is preferably 300x70m and is capable of accommodating crew vessel(s)/supply vessel(s)/ any other vessel(s) 14.
• a plurality of such vessels may be accommodated depending upon size.
• a vessel may be accommodated having up to 70m length and 6m draft.
• Such vessel 14 may be any vessel utilized for safe transfer of crew and material, as will be understood by persons skilled in the art and is not restricted to the exemplary illustration in figures 6 and 7.
• the gate astern 13 is preferably 40m and is adapted to close very fast.
• the temporary port is adapted to be moored on a turret system (not shown) and will therefore always head on the weather.
• the area behind the unit is a sheltered area 12 and hence when the vessel is submerged the crew vessel, supply vessel or any other vessel 14 is able to enter even in quite rough weather through the sluice gates 13.
• the sluice gates 13 are closed and hence a shallow port is formed where the crew/material can be transferred safely. This facility is particularly helpful, when the helicopters are out of reach. Following are some of the non-limiting specifications of the vessel according to a preferred embodiment.
• Vessel trial speed shall be measured (double run) before delivery with clean hull and calm sea (max. Beaufort 2) based on following:
• the vessel shall be able to operate in DP class 2 in the following weather condition for following sea, wind, current and all vessel headings:
• the vessel shall accommodate 120 persons including marine crew and special purpose crew.
• -Sail as a vessel operate as a rig.
• Intervention vessel Intervention vessel, construction vessel, Drilling unit, -Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS), Heavy lift vessel, Windmill installation vessel, Pipe layer, Deep water mining vessel, Accommodation unit, Tender Unit.
• AHTS -Anchor Handling Tug Supply
• Heavy lift vessel Windmill installation vessel
• Pipe layer Windmill installation vessel
• Pipe layer Deep water mining vessel
• Accommodation unit Tender Unit.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)
• Jib Cranes (AREA)
• Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
• Ship Loading And Unloading (AREA)
• Revetment (AREA)

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• 2010
  • 2010-07-09 CN CN201080043080.9A patent/CN102762445B/zh active Active
  • 2010-07-09 BR BR112012005671-9A patent/BR112012005671B1/pt active IP Right Grant
  • 2010-07-09 KR KR1020127009479A patent/KR101785965B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2010-07-09 EP EP10729913A patent/EP2477882A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-07-09 GB GB1205833.5A patent/GB2485959B/en active Active
  • 2010-07-09 SG SG2012017802A patent/SG179124A1/en unknown
  • 2010-07-09 WO PCT/EP2010/059865 patent/WO2011029642A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2010-07-09 US US13/395,732 patent/US8689720B2/en active Active
• 2012
  • 2012-12-21 HK HK12113227.4A patent/HK1172300A1/xx unknown

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